The U.S. Air Force has handed over retired F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to provide replacement components for aircraft previously donated by European allies, according to The War Zone on May 1st.
According to an
Air Force
a representative from the U.S. Department of the Air Force stated that they have backed the maintenance of F-16 fighter jets donated by Europe.
Ukraine
by offering unused and entirely inactive
F-16s
to Ukraine for parts.”
The airplanes, which have been taken out of U.S. service, cannot fly due to missing essential parts like engines and radar systems, rendering them incapable of performing active duties.
On April 26, the reduced F-16 airframes were apparently transported aboard an An-124 transport aircraft departing from Tucson International Airport in Arizona bound for Poland.
Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport
, a crucial logistics center for Western aid to Ukraine.
A number of European partners have pledged to provide Ukraine with functional F-16 aircraft.
The
Netherlands
has pledged 24 aircraft,
Denmark
Promised 19 units, with first deliveries scheduled for 2024, and Norway has committed to providing anywhere from 6 to 22 aircraft. Additionally, Belgium declared its plan to supply F-16s; however, exact quantities have not been specified.
Introduced in the latter part of the 1970s, the F-16 fighter jet is utilized by more than twenty nations and can engage in both aerial dogfights and precise ground attacks.
In Ukraine, people are accustomed to
intercept
Russian missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are also included.
offensive capabilities
To aim at Russian positions along the frontline.
Ukraine’s
General Staff
reported on August 29, 2024, about an F-16 fighter jet crash during a major Russian missile assault.
The military stated that the aircraft took out four Russian cruise missiles prior to being brought down, showcasing what officials characterized as its “significant effectiveness.”
Read also:
Trump’s peace effort ignores thousands of Ukrainians still tortured in Russian captivity
